Past Events

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 201527-29th November 2015Malta

CHEC sent a delegation to CHOGM 2015, the theme of which was “Adding Global Value”. A full report has been published.

The Sri Lanka Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
November 2013
Colombo, Sri Lanka

CHOGM began with a colourful opening ceremony, with splendid cultural displays interspersed with political speeches. 50 countries attended the meeting, 27 of which were represented by Heads of Government. Other states chose to be represented by officials, in some cases by High Commissioners from London.

At the meeting with Foreign Ministers, sometimes with their substitutes (i.e. Hugo Swire for William Hague), the Commonwealth People’s Forum 2013 Outcome Document was the read out followed by six short one-minute long presentations. The Commonwealth Organisations’ presentation, which the CHEC delegation had worked on, was read out without interruption. Several ministers and representatives responded positively to the points highlighted in each presentation. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister commented on the way the meeting had been compiled, expressing the hope that it would be done differently next time to encourage dialogue. This is a matter that the Commonwealth Associations will have to bring up, once more, with the Commonwealth Foundation in London.

The 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting produced a number of documents of substance, notably:

These documents look at issues of interest to CHEC, such as Climate Change, Education, Health, Marine Resources, Migration, Ocean Governance, and Small States. Nevertheless there seems to be a significant omission: the issues around ever increasing urbanisation of Commonwealth countries.

At CHOGM 2013, Commonwealth Heads of Government decided, as a result of Mauritius’ withdrawal, that Malta would host CHOGM 2015. Vanuatu was proposed for 2017 and Malaysia for 2019.

Once again CHEC is being represented at the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF). This year, Mark Robinson and Nicholas Watts, CHEC Trustees, are the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council’s delegates to the CPF in Sri Lanka.

Mark Robinson was a panelist on the primer session “The Commonwealth: Past, Present and Future” with Beth Kreling from the Commonwealth Consortium for Education and Vijay Krishnarayan from the Commonwealth Foundation as chair. Mark had the opportunity to talk about CHEC’s vanguardism and how it set a climate change agenda long before such subject became fashionable.

On the CPF’s second day, Mark attended themed workshops on Sustainable Development and Migration, where he was able to put forward his knowledge of the Ramphal Institute’s work around visa waivers and cooperation throughout the Commonwealth.

On Tuesday (CPF Day 3), Mark and Nicholas both attended a very constructive meeting organised by the Commonwealth Association of Planners on “Our Commonwealth Urban Future”, where a young Pakistani Minister from Karachi made an eye-opening contribution explaining how Karachi’s only water source for some 22 million people was threatened by pollution.

On Wednesday, the CPF concluded with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister Hugo Swire giving a speech in which he underlined the importance of the Commonwealth values such as Human Rights, Democracy, Gender equality, the role of Civil Society and Sustainable Development. The Outcome Document “Civil Society Perspectives for a Commonwealth Post 2015 Development Agenda” is now available online for download. It highlights that to improve global development effectiveness post 2015, some common issues need to be addressed, including: ‘Food Security’, ‘Migration’, ‘Urbanisation and Human settlements’ and ‘Global Environmental Justice, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management’.

Nicholas left Hikkaduwa for a 2-day educational “Reconstruction and Reconciliation” tour in the Northern Province, covering the districts of Jaffna and Kilinochi. The journey should help understand progress on post-war reconciliation and development initiatives. Meanwhile, Mark left for Colombo, where the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting began on Friday.

Workshop on Mangroves on West Africa
25-27 June 2013
Gunjur Beach, the Gambia

A 2 day event, held by GEPADG and CHEC Gambia, focused on the mangroves that occur in 19 West African countries, including Commonwealth countries such as Nigeria and Sierra Leone. However, this resource is often partly destroyed by the people who need it most: the residents of the areas. This workshop bought together participants from affected communities to outline future strategies for the future governance and management of mangrove ecosystems to sustain natural coastal defences, in-shore fisheries, wildlife and ecotourism while maintaining livelihoods from growing coastal populations.

CHEC has had representatives at events around CHOGMs since 1970s. With the changing nature of these meetings, CHEC’s role has changed. However, CHEC were able to have strong group attending several events around the November meeting in Perth, Australia, consisting of Donnell Davis, Envirobusiness, Brisbane, Mark Robinson and Nicholas Watts from the CHEC Board.

In April 2011, SHE held a conference in Monte Lago, Nevada, USA, on the theme Human Responsibility and Environmental Change: Planning, Process, and Policy. This was sponsored by CHEC and Ian Douglas held the keynote speech on Water and Cities: Their Uncertain Future Human Ecology. To find out more, click here.Workshop on Tropical Rainforest Field Stations
29 – 30 June 2010
Edinburgh, UK

CHEC is very pleased to report the success of the CHEC workshop on Tropical Rainforest Field Stations held in parallel with the 18th Commonwealth Forestry Conference in Edinburgh on 29th and 30th June, 2010.

The workshop succeeded in bringing together key practitioners and specialists who discussed the feasibility and effectiveness of using field centres for research, for training university and school students and for assisting the development of local communities. Participants also discussed the challenges facing field stations and how future co-operation should be used to help the work of field stations around the world.

Caryll Stephen, Chairman of CHEC’s Board of Governors opened the meeting with a reminder of human dependence on natural systems and the need for us all to take responsibility for our impacts on the environment. The workshops that followed consisted of presentations about tropical rain forest field stations, a wide ranging discussion on Tuesday 29th June, and a report to the Commonwealth Forestry Conference at a lunch-time meeting in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

CHEC thanks the Commonwealth Foundation for its support of the workshop. CHEC also thanks the Very Reverend Graham Forbes, Provost, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sarah Grotrian, and Eleanor Morris for their help and aid in Edinburgh.

A follow up on the Rainforest fields station took place at the Eco-Summit in September 2012 in Ohio, USA, which in turn led to a further meeting being convened in Kota Kimabalu, Sabah, Malaysia at an International Conference on Valuing Forests through Field Studies Centres in September 2013.

2009 International Human Ecology Conference: Human Ecology for an Urbanising World
29 June – 3 July 2009
Manchester University, UK

The Conference on “Human Ecology for an Urbanising World” examined the status of, and current challenges facing, human ecology around the world. It brought together as many as 150 scholars and practitioners associated with the study and practice of human ecology to demonstrate the relevance of the discipline, and its philosophy and applications, for the contemporary environment and for society.

The program included roundtable discussions, open forums and field trips (in and around Manchester along with the Peak District) for raising questions, exchanging ideas, and discussing issues or plans for the future of human ecology.

Special thanks go to the Commonwealth Foundation for enabling CHEC to bring delegates from its various Chapters. CHEC was delighted to see members, old and new, from around the Commonwealth including Australia, India, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.